We were lucky to catch up with C. J. Robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.
C. J., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
I believe success comes from following through on what you say you’ll do. It’s about manifesting your goals and creating a clear plan to achieve them. My mom always said, “What you put in is what you get out,” and I apply that principle to all my creative and business pursuits.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is C.J. Robinson. I’m an art director, designer, and artist originally from Atlanta, GA, now based in Brooklyn, NY. I hold a BFA in Communications Design from Syracuse University. My expertise spans creative direction, editorial illustration, brand strategy, and visual identity. I’m also deeply passionate about fashion, music, and crafting art through textile and mixed media.
Central to my artwork is a celebration of Blackness, exploring themes of rest, masculinity, religion, and intimacy. My style blends contour line drawing, warm hues, and textured applications, creating a vibrant visual homage to my heritage.
My artistic journey has been widely recognized, with features in esteemed publications like *Ebony*, *GQ*, *Esquire*, and *NBC*. I’ve collaborated with notable brands such as Native Son, Team Epiphany, and BEAM, demonstrating my ability to merge artistic expression with commercial success.
Currently, I serve as a designer at Amazon, on my journey towards pushing boundaries and redefining conventions, leaving a lasting impact on the creative industry.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A story that illustrates resilience for me is my collegiate journey studying design. Truthfully, I struggled a lot in my major. I wasn’t a standout student, lacked support, and faced challenges due to the lack of diversity. I didn’t initially grasp the process of design and project management, and it took me longer to adjust compared to my peers. At one point, I was even encouraged to leave the major and ended up on academic probation.
Despite this, I was determined to pursue a future in design and refused to give up. I worked harder, attended office hours regularly, and built strong relationships with my professors. Many nights were sleepless as I poured myself into building out my design projects. Over time, my approach to design improved—I became more organized, resilient, and confident in my understanding.
Although I didn’t graduate on time—a fact I used to struggle to admit—I eventually earned my degree with a job offer already secured. That moment taught me a powerful lesson: others may give up on you, but you should never give up on yourself.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to achieve creative freedom and bring my artistic visions to life beyond the scope of my professional work. As an artist, I believe it’s essential to feel creatively fulfilled. I’m focused on building a legacy and establishing a name for myself with the intent to challenge norms, make an impact, and leave a lasting mark on the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cjrobinson.net
- Instagram: @iam_cjrobin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjrobinsondesigns/
